New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-21

H. 3
ing girl, and Laura's special friend.
81 had hoped Laura had said to her
cousin IN that Bernard would marry Bell
Ogilyiie. know she likes him, and Just
before you came thought he was just
beginning to pay her some attention; !;
but one never knows how to take Ber-
nard. !"
After this affair of the white and blue
dresses, Bernard is for some days rather
cool and distant to his cousin. S
Edna does not like it her conscience
perhaps reproaches her-and one day,
standing in the low window, she places
her hand lightly on his coat-sleeve, and
says coaxingly:
'.What is the matter, Bernard? have
I offended you ?"
He turns his dark eyes upon her
without word.
II am sure I never intended it, }" says
Edna.
He takes the little hand lying on his
coat-sleeve.
'f you never intended it, Edna I'll
forgive it."
Forgive what?" in innocent sur
prise.
| But her color betrays her, and Ber-
nard smiles as he says still holding her
hand:
You are no actress, little cousin, You
know to what I allude. "
But, Bernard, that blue dress was
we'll, was really shabby, and you would
not at all have liked to see me in it.
And besides you know-Mr. Derwent
had offered to escort me to the party"
He's decidedly oficious and frisky
for his age," says Bernard dissapprov-
ingly.
'Frisky! Oh, Bernardo" says Edna,
laughing.
S'Has he asked you to go to the pic
mic ?" enquired her cousin suspiciously.
| fsNot exactly. merely alluded
to"
"Merely took it for granted that you
were bound to 80 with him, and so he
needn't be>in g hurry to ask your says
Bernard wrathfully.
"Then he will find himself mistaken"
Edna says with emphasis.
| care you sure of that ?"
''Sure? OF course! And to prove it,
I'll go with you, Bernard" this very
sweetly, eff you will let me, and aren't
engaged to Miss Ogilvie.
Miss Ogilvie is nothing to me. She's
a nice sensible girl, but Tn not in love
with her, as Laura, and mother, and all
of them seem to think"
"They say you liked her once," says
Edna, glancing up askance, and half
shading her face with her fan.
81 like her we'll enough, and, per-
! haps, might have liked her better in
time. But since you came, Edna !"
| At that critical moment, Laura inno-
Gently entered the room.
It was a charming picnic, as every
body said. Laura had plenty of part
ners, but as for Edna, the beaux gener-
ally, though reluctantly, seemed in
clined to respect the pretentions Of Mr..
! Derwent.
Bernard, from remote corners,
watched that gentleman's attentions to
his cousin, and pulled his moustache
with inward wrath and resentment.
He began, too, to look with doubt up
on Edna, for had she not that evening
encouraged him in the sweetest manner,
and was she not now, to all appearances,
equally encouraging his rival?
A sudden thought sent the blood to
his brow. Could it be that this charm
ing cousin of his was coquette, and
was making fool Of him?
At this moment the couples began TO
take their places for quadrille, and
! Bernard sees Mr.. Derwent, in his usual
stately and deliberate manner, making
his way to Edna across the crowded
| floor.
Slipping past the row of wall flowers,
he reached his cousins side in advance
| of his rival.
Are you engaged for this set?" he
whispered
eyes, toto Mr.. Derwent," glancing
at her card
He takes the card from her hastily,
and thrust it into his pocket, just as a
tall head and shoulders loom up near
| them.
Dance this set with me, Edna L ask
it as a fayor-as something more than a
favor!" he said earnestly.
She knows what he means. He is
pressing her hand. This is the deci-
she cannot eyade.
"Our dance, I believe, Miss Edna,
says Mr., Derwent, Offering his arm.
Edna hesitates, and casts glance at
Bernard, wistful and appealing.
He speaks Instantly, and there is a
subdued triumph in bis look and man
ner:
.Beg pardon, Mr.. Derwent, but I
think you are mistaken. This is my
dance:"
Edna slightly turns to Mr. Derwent.
Her breath comes quickly, and her fin
4 gers tremble a little as she endeavors to
fasten that troublesome bracelet.
Let Miss Edna decide which of us is
: right, says Mr.. Derwent with dignified
/ politeness.
4 He Is little flushed
! Bernard, on the contrary, is slightly
pale, and his eyes are intently fixed up
on his cousin.
8 She avoids his glance, and turning,
. takes Mr. DerWent..s arm. murmurine.